We were quite close when I was young, we lived nearby and spent many a night at their house, snuggled up in their bed with them, or napping in 'the girls' room' where my mom and aunt spent their youth. I can still hear that box fan rattling away on a hot summer afternoon, and the occasional car drive by on the street down below the open window. I can still hear her calling through the house, "Kids!! Wash your hands! Time for supper!"
One of the things I remember most about Granny is how soft she was. She was a voluptuous woman, and her cushiony arms and legs and breasts were all the soft comfort a little one could need. As a small child I loved nothing more than to curl up in her lap, or rest my head on her thigh while she played with my hair, the rest of me sprawled out on the couch. I didn't care what she was doing or who she was talking to or anything about ANYthing if I could just relax there with her.
Boom-pa was our playmate. Down over the hill by the river, or up at the house, or walking down to the little community park, he was just thrilled to be part of it all, and looking back I can SEE how he spent more time watching than actually playing, enjoying our joy. One vivid memory I have is of us playing 'Red Light, Green Light' on the back porch. We would get all ready to go crazy running and jumping and spinning the moment he said 'Green Light!', trying to be the first to reach the end, to reach him. But he spoiled it... "Caution!" he called out. What? "BOOM-PA! You're supposed to say RED LIGHT!!"
"Oh no, there's always a yellow light first. That yellow light means 'caution', it means the red light is coming."
"But Boom-pa, that's not how you play! You're not supposed to use the yellow light!"
And he would just chuckle in his knowing way, and keep playing the game in his fashion, and we adjusted because it was still fun to play with Boom-pa, even if we DID have to slow down for the yellow light.
Magical memories...
I know everyone has their own beliefs of life and death and angels and guardians. I'm not going to try and debate that, but I do want to share a thought that gives me warm fuzzies.
I was biking with Kevin back in late September, when I got hit by a car. I was going down the sidewalk and in a rush to get home, we were so close, after 15 miles I just wanted OFF that bike. It was a pretty new bike that I had named 'Besty' in a joking way, it was what Granny would write on almost all the birthday cards she ever gave me, somehow she just couldn't spell 'Betsy' properly. So Besty and I were trucking along, with Kevin right behind and we were getting close to an intersection. I could see a car pulling up, so I looked at the lights...hers was red, and I watched her slow down. She was in a right hand turning lane and I was headed straight for her should she pull out, so I began to slow down also, and looked at her for confirmation that she was, indeed, stopping. I saw her continue to slow and she looked left, when I made the assumption that she WAS stopping, so I sped up to get across the crosswalk quickly. However, she didn't stop. After she looked left, she stepped on the gas and sped up to make that turn, hitting me directly.
I felt the bumper of her car as it hit my leg, and the hood of the car as I flew up and landed on it, I saw the windshield as I rolled over the hood and almost smashed my face into the glass. The car continued moving across both lanes of traffic, over the median and into the lanes of oncoming traffic.
When she finally rolled to a stop, I was able to get up off her car and walk across all three lanes and sit down in the grass on the other side, next to my mangled Besty. She had gotten completely run over and suffered major structural damage. There were no cars in the far lanes, cars that would have hit us head on...they were held up at a light just a block north. I got large bruises on both my shoulders, my leg, my hip...but I felt no pain, I was barely sore even in the days after, my biggest problem was the adrenaline shock.
I like to feel that Boom-pa was up there playing 'Red Light, Green Light' with the southbound cars, while Granny softened my fall and cushioned my blows. Besty took all the damage, their Betsy walked away pretty much unscathed, in spite of the large dent I (we?) left in the hood of that lady's car.
My boys now live close by to a wonderful pair of grandparents, Kevin's parents, and they are so blessed to have them, as I am blessed to have the free time they offer me ;) They spend many nights sleeping over, getting spoiled, going on fun excursions to the zoo, or fishing, or the beach...you name it. They have it made. My mom, on the other hand, lives rather far away and doesn't get to see us very often. So her recent visit was a special treat for all of us, and she did what Grannies and Grammies and Grandmas do best...lots of play, lots of love, lots of silliness with some gentle guidance along the way.
I am grateful that my boys have such loving grandparents and I hope they have magical memories to keep with them forever, just like I do.
